Dampening-machine.



H. WEBER. DAMPEMNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1917,

1,283,38l Patented ont. 29, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lx.

Wifi/J /iwrn eg,

Im Marziali' H. WEBER.

DAMPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mio JUNE 9,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.'

Patented Oct. 29, 1918..

anion.

HERMAN WEBER, vOF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

nAMrENING-Maonrivn.

y Application filed June 9, lSl'?.

To all whom it may cono-ern.'

Be it known that I. HERMAN .Vnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Oak Park, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented .certain new and useful improvements in Dampening- Machines, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus and process for dampening collars and other articles in laundries, preparatoryto ironing of the same.

The object of my invention is the production of a machine and process through the medium of which a large number of articles may be readily and uniformly dampened, each article being subjected to the dampening process for the same period of time. A further object is the productionof a machine and process as mentioned which will be capable of ready operation and which will be highly etcient. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying; drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dampening machine embodying the invention, v

Figs. 2 and 3, enlarged sections taken on substantially lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1, and

Fig. et, a partially sectional rear elevation 0f the machine.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a base 5 from which arises a suitable supporting framework consisting primarily of two spaced vertical struts 6. Extending between the struts 6 is a central roller 7 and vertically spaced from said roller are upper and lower rollers S and 9 respectively. Said rollers are interchangeable one with the other and in order to permit of ready detachment or interchanging, each roller is supported at one end in a bearing 10 which is pivotally mounted upon the correspondinof strut 6, said bearing being releasably loced in operative position by a bolt or fastening device 11. Upon unloosening of the bolt 11 cooperating with any of said rollers, the roller may rocked to posit in: r sending Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 19,18.

Serial No. 173,889.

with the dotted line position of roller 8 in Fig. 4 which of course permits of ready sliding of the same from engagement with the bearing l0. The opposite end of each roller 8 is detachably connected with a stub shaft 12 mounted in a bearing 18, the inner end of said shaft being in slot and tongue connection with the adjacent end of the roller, as clearly seen at the roller S in Fig. 4:. A shiftably mounted sleeve 1e. coperates with the hub of each roller to hold the same in operative relation with the corresponding shaft 12. When it is desired to unlock any roller from its corresponding shaft 12, it is only necessary to shift the sleeve 14 to the left, as will be readily understood. lVhen this is done, the correspondingend of the roller may be dropped to theposition corresponding to the dotted line position of roller 8 in Fig. t.

Splined to the outer end of the shafts 12 eoperating with rollers 7, S and 9 are friction disks 15, 16 and 17 respectively, and cooperating with said friction disks are frictio'n Wheels 18, 19 and 20 respectively which are shiftably mounted upon and splined to a shaft 21. Cooperating with each of the disks 15, 16 and 17 is a collar or sleeve 22 which is threaded upon the corresponding bearing 13, the arrangement being such that any one of said friction disks may be adjusted toward or from the corresponding friction wheel through rotative adjustment of the Collar 22 Cooperating with said friction disk, the outer end of the'collar merely abutting against the adjacent end of the hub of the disk. If desired, ball bearings may be inserted between the adjacent end of each collar and its corresponding disk, as seen in Fig. 4 to alleviate friction. Each collar may be provided with slots to permit of engagement therewith of a Spanner wrench or the like for adjusting the same. With this arrangement, it will be seen that each friction disk may be entirely disconnected from its cooperating friction wheel or the frictional engagement between the two adjusted as desired. The shaft 2,1 is driven through the medium of a -bevel gear 23 iiXed thereto which meshes with a bevel gear 2% xed to the shaft 9.5 mounted in suitable bearings, said shaft 25 carrying pulleys 26 whereby the same may be connected with suitable driving means.

'raigituclnal shitting of and the directionl of rotation of the same, is

effected by means of shifting forks 27 30' and 30 respectively, the shifting fork 27 being slidably mounted upon a supporting Lbar 28 to which the same may be secured by a set screw 29. Likewise the shifting forks`30 and 30 are mounted upon a supporting bar 31 to which said forks may belocked by set screws 32. f v

`Projecting forwardly from the struts 6 and pivotally connected therewithare two supplemental supporting frames 33 and 33, said frames being adjustably connected together by means of screws 34 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends with the frame 33', the upper end of each screw being inswiveled connection with an upper screwed portion 35 which passes Vloosely through perforated lugs 36 formed upon the upper frame as seen in Fig. 3. Upon the member 35 is threaded a nut 37 which is arranged between the lugs 36. The nuts 37 `are provided with peripheral sockets or recesses for a spanner wrench or 'pointed tool n whereby the same may be 4adjusted in order tol effect adjustment of the distance between the frames 33 and 33', as will be readilyunderstood. The lower frame 33 is adjustably connected with the mainframe by brace bars 38, said brace bars having a pluralityfof.

spaced perforations in order to permit of vertical adjustment of lthe auxiliary frames, as will be readily understood.

Carried at the outer ends of the frames 33 and 33 are guide rollers 39'and 39 respectively which are mounted in bearing members 40 and 40 adjustably lsecured to said frames. The'ends of said rollers are ed 'bolts 41 and 41 respectively being provided to vlock said rollers 39 and 39 in en- I gagement with` said slots, Y

With the machine thus constructed, are

employed two elongated flexible 'apro-ns 42 ofY uniform dimensions, and which are v adapted to be wound upon the rollers .7, 8

' the same. Y

and 9 either separately or together with thel dampenedy positioned between articlesto be In operating the machine,the aprons-42 are first moistened to the extent desired and thenA said aprons lare wound separately upon the rollers Sand 9. This having been done,.. the two outer ends of said aprons are brought forwardly around the guide rollers,

20 will be adjusted relative to the frictiony disks 16 and 17 to retard the rollers 8 and 9Av in order to takeV up any slack in saidaprons l v as the same are unwound from saidrollers and wound upon the roller 7 The operator Y or feeder'will stand in front ofthe rollers 39 and 39 and place the collars or other articles to be Ydampened successively between the aprons as the latter passaround said? Y stood. Y

krollers 39 andv 39, as will bereadily under-' When the aprons, withl the articles to be dampened arranged between the-same, have thus been completely unwound from the j rollers 8 and 9 and wound uponthefroller 7 the latter will be .detached from itsmounting Vand interchanged with eitherof the .rollers 8 or 9. VThis havingbeen done, the

two outer ends of the aprons will 'befcarried 'i together forwardly over one of the rollers 39' and 39 and the samerewound together kupon the central roller.

vVith the apronsthu's rewound uponY the Y90,V

central roller, the outer ends of the aprons` are carried forwardly around the rollers 39- and 39 and thence to the upper Vand ,lower rollers to which said ends are fastenedi- The power 1s then applied -to effect winding of the aprons separately uponthe rollers 8 .and e 9 and the friction wheel 18 soa'dj usted vas to retard rotation of the central roller in order tO't-kQUP any Slack'in the unwinding of the i aprons therefrom. 1n this separationand unwinding ofthe aprons from ythe central) Y roller, the articles carried between f Vsaid aprons will be discharged therefrom, as-.will be readilyunderstood. Tlirough'the rstrefj;

winding ofztheapronaas above described whereby the first ends wrappedguponthe central roller will be broughtjoftlie. outer' .i

yside of the-roll or coil,fthe articles fir'st'in-V Y serted ybetween the aprons willbefrst tobe removed, and those last inserted will bethe Vlast to be removed, thus resulting in a. uniform dampening of all of the articles, which f' y is highly desirable.

Vithoutthis reverse" Y f winding of the aprons as mentioned, it will Y ofcourse be apparentthat the articles first Y inserted between the aprons will belast to Y be removed and those last inserted lwill be;

first to be removed, the result", withA the lat-f ter arrangement being that thearticles yrst Ainserted will -be'` dampened toofmuch and those last Vinserted will notbe fdainpene'd enough. This non-uniform dampening i`sj f as above described, eliminated',with the con-Y structionand process set forth.y

VThe machinev .may be arranged adjacent the ironing machine or lmangio of thelaung' dry wherein the same is used, so,thz/ttfft he.V collars or articles dampened,fas the'lsame emerge from between the aprons 42 will Apass,

directly introV the ironer or mangle. As seen in Fig. l, rollers 43 are shown diagrammatically illustrating an ironer or mangle. Through the adjustable supporting of the frames 38 and 33; the latter may be vertically adjusted in order to position the rollersland 39 in horizontal aliiiement with the entrance rollers of the ironer or mangle in connection with which the dainpener may be employed. lVhere the dampener is used in connection with an ironer or mangle', the entrance rollers of the latter will bey rotated at a rate of speed such that the peripheries thei'eof will travel slightly faster than the aprons AQ, with the result that the articles in passing from one machine to the other; will be stretched to remove wrinkles therefrom; as is customary before the ironing of dampened collars or similar ai'ticles.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated iexible aprons adapted to be wound together with the articles to be dampened positioned. between the same; means for rewinding said aprons; and means for subsequently separating said aprons and winding the same separately7 substantially as described.

2. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated flexible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; and a plurality of rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be Wound either separately or together with the articles to be dampened positioned between the same, substantially as described.

f5. A dampener comprising a pair of elongated ieXible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a plurality of rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound; driving means; and means for releasably connecting said rollers with said driving means; substantially as described.

il. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated lieXible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a plurality of rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound; driving` means; means for releasably connecting said rollers with said driving means; and means for retarding rotation of any of said rollers7 substantially as described.

. A dampener comprising a pair of elongated flexible aprons between which the arti- 'cles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a plurality of rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound; driving means; means for releasably connecting said rollers with said driving means; and frictioiial means for retardingY rotation of any of said rollers; substantially as described.

6. A dam'pener comprising a pair of elongated flexible aprons between which the articles to bey dampened are adapted to be placed; a plurality of rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together; and means for driving said rollers at variable speeds, substantially as described.

7. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated fleXible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a central roller and two additional rollers arranged one on each side of said central roller upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together; and means around which said aprons are adapted to pass in the passage thereof between said central roller and said additional rollers; substantially as described.

8. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated flexible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a central roller and two additional rollers arranged one on each side of said central roller upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together; and a pair of spaced guide rollers around which said aprons are adapted to pass in the passage thereof between said central roller and said additional rollers, substantially as described. l

9. A dampener comprising a pair of elongated iexible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a central roller and two additional rollers arranged one above and one below said central roller upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together; and a pair of adjacently positioned guide elements arranged substantially horizontally coplanar with and spaced from said central roller around which said aprons are adapted to pass in the passage thereof between said central roller and said additional rollers; substantially as described.

l0. A dainpener comprising a pair of elongated fiexible aprons between which the articles to be dampened are adapted to be placed; a central roller and two additional rollers arranged one above and one below said central roller upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together; pair of adj aeently positioned guide elements arranged substantially horizontally co ilanar with and spaced from said central role" around which said. aprons are tween said central roller and said additional rollers; and'meansioi driving said rollersin-either direction, ysubstantially as` de`- scribed.y Y Y t 1l.- A dampener comprising', a pair of elonf gated flexibleV aprons adapted to bevwound together with the articles to be dampened I s Y said aprons,`fwith "saidl aprons arranged to-y positioned betweenfthcsame means for rewinding said aprons; means orfsubsequently separating saidaprons and winding the `same separately and a pairk of gnide members adapted to receive the articles disf charged from between said aprons upon sep? arationand separate winding of said aprons, substantiallysas described. Y y i 12. A dampener comprising apair oflelonr gated flexible aprons adapted to be wound together with the articles to be dampened positioned between the saine.;A means for rewnding saidv aprons; means for subsequently separating` said aprons and winding the same separately; and a pair ofrollers adapted to receive the articles discharged kfrom between said aprons upon separation and separatewinding of said aprons`,said

'rollers rotating ,at a rate of speed such that the peripheries thereoftr'avel alittle faster than the speed 'of travel of said aprons,` substantially as described.V 'Y

13. A dampener comprising a pair of elongated flexible aprons between which the artieles to be dampened are adapted to Y be placed; and a plurality of interchangeable rollers upon which said aprons are adapted to be wound either separately or together copies of this patent may be obtained for Wound, substa'ntia'llyiisdescribed'1 Y Y* Y f i5.,Y The? prOCeSSl 4'0f'fdamp'enifls articles ve centsA each, by addressingthe Washington, D. C. Y

L*width the articlesto be dampenedi positioned'ik 'jV Vbetween the same',' substantially as des`cribed..V Y 1 .i 14;.V The process of l dampening articles n preparatoryY tol ironing of the same;V which consistsin winding WO dalppaprosj gether and successivelyinsertingthe articlesV between` saidV aprons during,theA winding "of i f` 1 the same together, in then reverselywinding Y gether. and i said@ articles :positioned between thev same; andfth'en"'uni'ivindingf said apron and successively renioying the y'articles from between Ythe sainejfas the aprons vare "un preparatory V'to ironing of thefsaine, which consists" in ,winding twofdamp aprons to-f',

`gether and successively inserting the articles between said apronsduring Vthe winding of p55*,V the same together, in then reverselywinding said aprons, Iwith lsaid aprons-iarrangedtof .gether'fand saida'rticles positionedbetween?Vv the same; then'unwinding' and separating i said aprons and successively'reinovingthero articles from between the same, asY said y aprons are unwoundv andseparated; and 1" then mechanically stretchingthefarticlesasYv the same areV removed fromfrbetween 'said aprons, substantially as described.; 15'" Y .65A y, Inl ltestimoniT whereof I'haifesignedmy name to thisspecication in thepre'sence of twosubscribing witnesses*V p Y vf s Y Y l HERMAN'WEBERA Witnesses: Y Y 'if afi ANTHONY AfOLsoN, HELEN F. LILLis.

Commissioner orfV Patenti, 

